Retiree Need to Know Information

Eligibility for IU Retiree Status

Employees with IU Retiree status at the time of termination are entitled to certain benefit programs. These include the programs listed above: IU Tuition Benefit, Life Insurance, and Medical care.

IU Retiree status is determined by the following age and service criteria:

Age at separation*	Minimum Years of Service
55	30
56	28
57	26
58	24
59	22
60**	20
61**	18
62**	16
63	14
64	12
65 or over	10
* Separation from IU or employment status change that results in discontinuation of Basic Life Insurance benefits. **At ages 60, 61, 62, employees covered by the PERF retirement plan on the date of separation shall qualify with at least 15 years of IU service. The “Years of IU Service” requirement will be prorated for ages that fall between the ages that are listed in the above table. "Years of IU Service" means the years of full-time appointed service at Indiana University.

Dependent Eligibility

All employees with IU Retiree status are eligible to enroll in IU-sponsored Retiree group health care coverage if they are covered by an IU-sponsored health care plan at the time of termination from the university (or when COBRA continuation coverage eligibility ends).

Eligible dependents include the individuals listed below, if they are eligible and covered by the Retiree's IU-sponsored health care plan at the time of termination from the university (or when COBRA continuation coverage eligibility ends). Once enrolled in an IU-sponsored health care plan, dependents cannot be added.

• the Retiree's legal spouse or registered same-sex domestic partner
• the Retiree's dependent children who continue to meet the definition of a dependent child as defined by IU for active employee coverage (i.e., the child remains unmarried; the child meets the IRS support test as a dependent of the employee; the child is age 23 or under, and if age 19 or over, meets either IU's requirements for student eligibility or disabled dependent child eligibility).

The above dependents are only eligible as long as the Retiree is enrolled in an IU-sponsored Retiree health care plan. An exception is that the surviving spouse and children of an employee are eligible if the employee has Retiree status as the time of death or the employee's death occurs while the dependents are covered under the Retiree's IU-sponsored Retiree health care plan.

Discontinuation of Participation

Participation as an active employee in an IU-sponsored health care plan ends on the day in which the Retiree terminates from the university.

The Retiree's coverage ends on the first of the month for which the individual has not made the required contribution.

Dependent coverage under an IU-sponsored Retiree health care plan ends when:

• the Retiree's coverage ends for a reason other than death of the Retiree;
• when the dependent ceases to meet the definition of an eligible dependent;
• upon discontinuance of all dependent coverage under the plan; or
• when the dependent becomes eligible for employee coverage.

It is also important to note the following conditions of participation in IU-sponsored Retiree health coverage:

• After dropping IU-sponsored Retiree health care coverage, participants cannot re-enroll at a later time.
• Dependents of a participating Retiree may continue coverage should the Retiree die.
• If the Retiree and dependents do not elect an IU-sponsored health care plan at the time of retirement, they cannot participate at a later time.

Additional Questions?

For questions about retiree status contact the University Human Resource Services Benefits Specialist ( or 812-856-4459).